“Try formatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows.” It’s a phrase any Microsoft Windows user has heard at least once in their life. But if you actually want to do that, you need a Windows installation disc or USB. Instead of relying on torrents or untrustworthy sources, let’s find out how to download Windows installation media officially from Microsoft.

This guide will help you download Microsoft-certified files to install Windows 7 onwards, but you might still need some other software or tools along the way. This guide doesn’t show how to actually create an installer out of those files. For that, we have a detailed guide, which you might need to refer to often once you have the official files:

You purchased a Windows 7 box in retail or bought a key from a Microsoft-authorized online store.

You bought a PC which came preloaded with official Windows 7.

Depending on your situation, you have different options.

If You Purchased a Windows 7 Box or Key…

Those in category one, good news! Microsoft has made it possible for you to download a Windows 7 ISO from their official site.

Go to Microsoft Software Recovery, enter your 25-character product key, select your preferred language, and click Verify Product Key. Once the key is verified, you will be able to download the ISO file. You can also choose to have an email link for your ISO emailed to you, which is the smarter option so that you don’t have to go through this process again.

Once you have the ISO, use Guy’s guide above to create a bootable USB or DVD and install Windows.

Hopefully, your original box came with a Windows Installation Disc. And hopefully, you kept that box intact. Because apart from that installation disc from your manufacturer, your key won’t work on anything else.

While there is no way to download Windows, you can contact your manufacturer and ask them to mail you the installation disc. Some, like Dell, do it for free, while others charge you for basic shipping.

If you need to do this, remember the most important thing: ask for the version of Windows that came installed originally! If you turn your laptop over, you’ll see a Windows sticker somewhere with the product key. On the same sticker, you will see the version of Windows it works on. Make sure you ask only for that version, regardless of whether you have upgraded your Windows to a new version since then.

Run the setup file on a Windows PC (not necessarily the one you want to upgrade). Go through the steps, add your product key when prompted for on Windows 8. Windows 8.1 does not have a prompt during this process, but will ask you for the key during the installation process. The setup recognizes which version the key is for and will start downloading that version of Windows. In the Windows 8.1 tool, you can choose whether you want a 32-bit or 64-bit installer, or both—choose both.

Once the download is done, you will be prompted to Install Now, Install By Creating Media, or Install Later From Your Desktop.

This bootable pen drive or DVD can now be used to do a clean install of Windows, provided you are already running Windows on the PC. However, if it’s a new hard drive or you weren’t previously running Windows, this pen drive or DVD can’t be used.

Go to Microsoft’s download page for Windows 10 ISO and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. Run the tool on a Windows PC (not necessarily the one you want to upgrade) and go through the steps, it’s pretty straightforward.

Choose whether you want a 32-bit or 64-bit installer, or both—choose both. Once the download is done, you will be prompted to Upgrade this PC now or Create installation media for another PC. Choose the second one. Choose USB Flash Drive to create a bootable pen drive, or ISO to create a bootable DVD. Insert your pen drive or DVD, make a respective selection, and go through the subsequent steps as instructed.

Microsoft Could Make this Easier!

Researching the various hoops you have to jump through to get Windows that you have already paid for, I can’t help but laugh at Microsoft. I am flabbergasted that there isn’t a simple, single program or web app where I can input my product key, get options for the different versions of Windows I am eligible for, and download the one I want. It is infinitely easier to install Ubuntu on a computer4 Ways to Install Ubuntu Linux on a Windows Computer4 Ways to Install Ubuntu Linux on a Windows ComputerYou want to install Ubuntu on your Windows computer, don't you? The thing is, you're not 100% certain, yet. Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can try Ubuntu before committing.Read More, or any other version of Linux—and that’s completely free!

Do you think Microsoft needs to make it simpler to download and install Windows for its legal, paying customers?

I also work in IT. I have standard system images using the volume licenses I manage, but I also have ISO files for retail Windows licenses. In my case, the ISOs came from MSDN subscriptions, but I know that retail licensed Windows 7+ install files are readily and legally available from Microsoft for end users.

It's also not that hard, once you have the installation media, to impregnate that media with the latest Windows updates. People who install Windows more than occasionally will definitely appreciate not having 20 minutes of extra downloads and reboots in the post-installation phase.

What is more tricky are OEM Windows versions, particularly since Windows 8+ has moved the official OEM product keys into firmware rather than a license sticker. For these, since I'm not willing to hunt down a specific installer, there's the Multi-OEM Project, which allows techs to build a universal installer that supports most globally-recognized OEM Windows media. Getting the actual files is a bit tricky, and you have to either be willing to trust the people providing the files or be willing to do scan after scan to verify that you're getting a product that doesn't contain rootkits, viruses or malware. Having done that several times myself I can say that the tool does seem to be a safe alternative to repeatedly searching and paying for oddball Windows installation media because your co-worker's son's POS Acer had its hard drive die.

I totally agree. It should be easier. I work in I.T. and I have to reinstall Windows a few times a week. I have universal discs with every Windows OS on them and several flash drives. I used to use Digital River but all the links have been gone for months (and I haven't checked since May).

Also I have a theory on why they don't offer download links.. can you imagine a normal user finally burning a disc or flash drive only to find that they are missing most of their drivers? Like ethernet and wireless.. so they can't do updates. That or the Manufacturer has some kind of license or contract with Microsoft that I'm unaware of that prevents Microsoft from distributing clean spam free OSs.

I think your latter reasoning is more plausible. Manufacturers earn money through pre-installed third-party software. MS needs these manufacturers to support them. So MS is fine with not allowing clean installations.

Microsoft no longer supports the Digital River ISOs, nor do they work for all OEM versions. Also, DR downloads require you to match the specific version you bought, which really isn't easy for a novice. Given these reasons, while it's technically possible to download DR ISOs, we can't recommend them as a viable solution for our readers.

The specific version is on the sticker with the product key, there is exactly zero difficulty to that.

Not to mention that the vast majority is just Windows 7 Home Premium for laptops and Windows 7 Starter for netbooks.

I have been pointing to Digital River ISOs for years on my Greek website and I have yet to have a single incident where an OEM or DSP product key didn't work with Digital River. I am not saying its impossible, but its extremely improbable.

The phrase "While there is no way to download Windows" is just not true. The plan to contact the manufacturer and pay 30-50$ to receive a recovery disk with all the unwanted software is frankly the worst possible solution. This is the "everything else has failed, so we have no other choice" solution.

I disagree with you, but I'm going to leave this comment up in case other users find it helpful :)

Note to users: MakeUseOf does not approve of this method. Digital River's Windows 7 ISO downloads are no longer supported by Microsoft; the links you will find above are hosted on torrents and unofficial. While they have not proven to be harmful or malicious, if you download those, that's at your own risk.

Robert Johnston

August 28, 2015 at 6:15 am

Does any one ever check first before they complain something cant be done? It actually is as easy as "googling 'download windows 10 ISO'" and being taken to the correct link" that is just what I did over a week ago, downloaded it, and installed it without a single problem. And am no ITT tech or even close to that either. Actually have no training in using computers . . . just have used trial and error since buying my first computer, have never even purchased any book about how to use them. Whenever I have a question, just searched on the Internet to see if I could find it... Maybe others should actually do that, instead of spending the time complaining...

That's *only* for Windows 10, Robert. With Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, the top links are from third-party sites and the first page even has some malicious links. If you don't find this article helpful, that's totally fine though.

I didn't have a problem upgrading one laptop from Win 7 to Win 10...OTOH, the former "Genuine Windows 8" laptop of mine was an epic Windows install #FAIL...I could install Windows 10 but couldn't activate it; I'd tested Windows 10 on this laptop and was disappointed M$ decided to make things so danged complicated. I ended up saying, "to heck with it!" and installed Linux Mint on the former Windows 8 laptop. And odds are I'll take the other laptop and move it to Linux Mint too. Smooth move, Micro$oft...

my thoughts echo what Ben Stutts said below - MS has become so heck-bent on battling piracy that they make it difficult for everyone else with a proper license to use Windows 10. My laptop originally had Windows 8 on it (which is supposed to have the product key baked into the BIOS) - then I had a preview of Windows 10 Pro since the beginning of this year - I wanted to clean install Windows 10 Home. MS wants me to downgrade back to Windows 8 then upgrade (which I couldn't do because my recovery media didn't work). I ended up stuck with a non-activated version of Windows 10. I didn't want to go through the hokey pokey and turn myself around and jump through the hoops MS wants me to jump through. For a bunch of folks who are supposed to be tech-savvy, MS does some pretty back-a**wards things...

Microsoft in their zeal to stop piracy has made it more difficult for a legitimate user to install the OS they paid for than for the pirates to steal it. The pirates are laughing at You MS. They are not having the problems installing Windows - ONLY your legitimate paying customers have this problem. MS management, please get your head out of where the sun don't shine and join the real world. I have a license - and yet it is easier to install a working pirate version than to reinstall my legal version.

"The pirates are laughing at You MS. They are not having the problems installing Windows – ONLY your legitimate paying customers have this problem." -- You nailed it Ben. You absolutely nailed it. Thank you for this comment.

Whichever is the latest version you *purchased* a key for. So if you purchased a computer with Win 7, that's the key. If you purchased a Windows 8 upgrade key, then that's your latest key. I'm going to assume Windows 8 to 8.1 was the free upgrade for you, which would mean Windows 8 is what you need to use from the above methods.

If you are currently running an activated version of Windows 10, you should be able to install Windows 10 on that device without issues. If it's a computer with the Windows license embedded in the UEFI / BIOS (Windows 8), it should activate automatically.

Replacing the motherboard will break your auto-activation, though. In that case, you'll have to use the original product key of the Windows version that originally came with your computer, as described above.

I actually do agree with you. Working in I.T., I've got pretty much every Windows OS burned to disk in my desk drawer because of this. I absolutely love using Linux as well. I only commented because it was such an informative article, and thought the piece at the end just didn't fit.

Fair enough. I just wanted to draw attention to how MS doesn't seem to care about its customer once the sale is made. It really shouldn't be so hard to download a legitimate copy of Windows that I've already paid for. I mean, we have a 1000-word article on it! It should be as easy as Googling "download official Windows 7/8/10" and being taken straight to the correct link, where you can start downloading immediately.

John P

July 4, 2016 at 6:15 pm

Pretty sure he's talking about " It is infinitely easier to install Ubuntu on a computer, or any other version of Linux—and that’s completely free!" and not the piece about making it easier.